Considering how often he's been in the news of late for his battles with the press, you may have forgotten that Alec Baldwin is also a very fine actor. Tonight, he takes that acting ability to SVU — playing a slimy member of the press who subverts Benson's efforts to convict a rapist. The episode is directed by Mariska Hargitay and features a guest appearance by Katie Couric as herself.

Here's news many fans of The Americans have been longing to hear: Margo Martindale returns tonight as Claudia and adds another level of complexity to an excellent outing that explores Elizabeth's delayed reaction to her own shooting and to the murder of her friends. Claudia thinks Elizabeth isn't up to the spy task at hand; Elizabeth thinks Claudia is up to something else. As usual, odds are both of them are right. And as usual, you feel for Elizabeth — even though most of what she's doing is horrid.